Automatic car-indicator-operating device



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. B. CRANE.

, AUTOMATIC GAR INDICATOR OPERATING DEVICE. No. 471,233. Patented Mar.22, 1892.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-.-Sheet 2 S. B. CRANE. AUTOMATIC GAR INDICATOROPERATING DEVIGE.

No. 471,233. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

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' S. B. CRANE.

v AUTOMATIC OAR INDIOATOR OPERATING DEVICE. No. 471,233. Patented Mar.22, 1892.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet -4.

S-. B. CRANE. AUTOMATIG- CAR INDICATOR OPERATING DEVIGE.

No. 471,233. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

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SYLVANUS B. CRANE, OF OXFORD JUNCTION, IOlVA.

AUTOMATIC CAR- INDICATOR-OPERATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,233, dated March22, 1892.

Application filed December 2, 1890. Serial No. 373,360 (llo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVANUS B. CRANE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oxford Junction, in the county of Jones and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Automatic Oar-Indicator-Operating Device,of which the following is aspecifioation.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved automatic devicefor operating car-indicators to indicate to car-passengers the names andnumbers of stations or streets on the line of road as the car approachesthe same, and at the same time, if desired, to dis play advertisementsor other information.

The invention consists in placing between the rails or adjacent theretoof an ordinary railway or tramway a trip or raised surface, which comesin contact with a device suspended from a car while such car is passingover the same, and which device when in contact with such trip or raisedsurface is elevated, and while in such elevated position causes agear-wheel or sleeve rotating with the axle of a car to mesh or registerwith a loose gear-wheel 0r sleeve upon such axle during the period ofone revolution of such axle, and which loose gear-wheel or sleeve hascombined with it asprocket-wheel or pulley for transmitting power. Thesuspended device from the car, which comes in contact with the trip orraised surface, is arranged so that after it has passed the trip orraised surface it will by its own weight or other equivalent meanswithdraw the axle-rotating the gear-wheel or sleeve from meshing orregistering with the loose gear-wheel or sleeve upon such axle. Theloose gear-wheel or sleeve is further arranged in combination with theaxle-rotating gear-wheel or sleeve and a spring-tooth, so that the cogsupon such gear-wheels or sleeve will be forced away from each other orout of gear after one revolution is made by the spring-tooth coming incontact with the projection or tooth on the loose gearwheel or sleeve,even if the suspended device should fail to throw the same out of gear.

The in vention further consists of a sprocketchain, belt, or cable fortransmitting power from the gear-wheel or sleeve and itssprocketwheel'or pulley to a sprocket-wheel or pulley upon a shaft whichit rotates, which shaft is supported in journal-boxes to the car-body.

The shaft is provided with two loose sprocketwheels or pulleys, each ofwhich wheels or pulleys is provided Withinward-facing hubs or rimshaving at their respectiveinner ends inward-facing cogs or teeth, andbetween which upon such shaft is a sleeve arranged to rotate with suchshaft and to slide longitudinally thereon, the ends of which areprovided with teeth or cogs to register or mesh with the teeth or cogson such hubs or rims of the sprocketwheels or pulleys when such sleeveis forced against one or the other. Such sleeve is also hinged to thebottom of a pivoted arm or lever, so that the sleeve may by an operativebe brought in contact with one or the other of the hubs or rims of thesprocket- Wheels or pulleys upon said shaft and caused to register ormesh with the cogs or teeth therein, as desired. Sprocket-chains, belts,or pulleys are used to transmit power from each sprocket-wheel or pulleyon said shaft to corresponding sprocket-Wheels or pulleys upon oppositeends of one or the other class of rollers in an indicator for cars, forwhich I have made a separate application for Letters Patent, the samehaving been originally embodied in this application, in which an orderhas been made for divisionthat is, the rollers which carry the stripsindicating the names or numbers of stations or streets, or the rollerswhich carry the strip indicating advertisements or other information.The power transmitted from each sprocket-wheel or pulley through themedium of its sprocketchain, belt, or cable causes opposite revolutionto the respective roller to which such power is conveyed, so that therespective strips move in reverse directions, according to therespective sprocket-wheel or pulley with which the sleeve is caused toregister with through the medium of said cogs or teeth, and suchreversal of the motion of the rollers and index-strip is accomplished bythe operator through the medium of the pivoted arm or lever sliding thesleeve to register or mesh with the cogs or teeth of one or the other ofthe sprocket-wheels or pulleys upon said shaft.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of an ordinarystreet-car, the wheels being removed, and has also one end of the carbroken away to show the appearance of my street-car, and 13 the rail ortrack.

device when attached to such a car. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my deviceattached to the carwheel axle. Fig. 3 is a view of a longitudinalvertical section of the same. Fig. a is a view of a cross-section takenon the line X X of Fig. 2. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views of details of mydevice. Fig. 8 is a plan view, looking from the under part of a car, thecar-body not being shown, of my device as it appears when connected withthe car-axles and the bottom of the box carrying the index strips, withthe mechanism for transmission of power to opcrate the same; and Fig. 9is a similar plan view looking from above the axles, the floor of thecar and its frame not being shown.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

I will now describe what I deem the best mechanical construction forcarrying out my invention,.although I wish it understood thatmodifications and changes may be 111 ado therein without departing fromthe scope and purpose of my invention.

For the purpose of description I have illustrated my invention asapplied to a streetcar propelled by animalpower; but it may be appliedto a car propelled by any other power, whether such caris used upon astreetrailway or other railway.

In the drawings, A represents an ordinary In the remaining portion ofthe description,"whore I use numerals, to avoid confusion I willcommence with 10.

10 represents a trip or raised surface, preferably placed bctweentherails, of such length and elevation as desired and of such material asshall be suitable. These trips are placed at suitable distances apart and in street-car lines preferably at the intersection of streets.

11 is a car-axle, which revolves with the car-wheels 12, to which it isattached. 13 is a sleeve over such axle and secured thereto so as torevolve therewith.

11 is a box, rectangularly perforated, as at 15, so that the axle 11 andits sleeve 13 may pass through such perforation, the bottom of said boxbeing extended downward to form the arm 16, which carries the wheel 17and attached to said box 14 is an arm 18, which is hinged upon theopposite car-wheel axle 19 by means of a loose sleeve 20, similar tothat illustrated in Fig. 1, or it may be hinged to the body of the ear.I prefer to place a loose sleeve 21 around the sleeve 13, the exteriorof which is rectangular in form and grooved upon its four sides, as at22, so that the interior walls of the perforation in the box 14 may rideor slide in such grooves. The end of the box 14: opposite to the arm 18is provided with a projection 23, extending sidewise, near the outer endof which projection is a vertical perforation 22L, which extends at itstop and bottom in an angle, as at 25. Adjacent to the box l-zt and uponits side having the projection sidewise is another sleeve or gearwheel26, surrounding or upon the sleeve 13, which sleeve or gear-wheel 26 isprovided with a longitudinal groove to receive aregistering longitudinaltongue 27 upon the sleeve 13, so as to cause the sleeve or gear-wheel 26to revolve with the sleeve 13.

The sleeve or gear-wheel 26 is provided at one end with the cogs orteeth 28, and such gear-wheel or sleeve is provided outwardly with agroove 29 to accommodate therein a collar 30, and which collar isattached to an arm 31, which is hinged upon the opposite car-wheel axle19 by means of a loose sleeve, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, orit may be hinged to the body of the car. The collar is so arranged topermit the sleeve or gearwlseel 26 to rotate therein with the sleeve 13and the car-wheel axle 11, and such collar being located in the groove29 will move or slide such gear-wheel or sleeve 26 upon the sleeve 13 bymeans of a pin 32, which passes through the perforation 21 in the sideprojection 23 of the box 14:. It will be seen that when the box 11 dropsdown by its own weight sothat its wheel 17 reaches its lowest positionthe pin 32 will occupy a position in the perforation 25, as shown by thedotted lines in Fig. 3, and which causes the sleeve or gear-wheel 26 toassume a position close to said box 14:; and it will be further seenthat if the wheel 17 and box 14: are elevated or raised from saidposition it will cause the pin 32 to slide or move so as to occupy thatportion of the perforation, as at 2 1, which movement of said pin causesa like movement of the collar 30 and the sleeve or gear-wheel 26,causing them' to occupy a position at a greater distance from said box11. Attached to the side of the arm 31 is a s 'n'ing-arm 31, whichpasses through a loop or guide 35, attached to said arm 31, and whichspring-arm terminates in aside projection or tooth 36. Another sleeve orgear-wheel 37 surrounds the sleeve 13, an end of which is adjacent tothe teeth or cogs 28, and is also provided with registering teeth orcogs 8S and a projection or teeth 39, and its exterior surface is alsoprovided with a groove 40 and also with sprockets 4], while its interiorsurface is enlarged, as at 12, so as to bear against the collar 43 uponthe sleeve 13. The collar ll surrounds the sleeve or gear-wheel 37,being located in the groove 40, and which collar is attached to an arm41, which is hinged upon the opposite car-wheel axle 10 by means of theloose sleeve 20, or it maybe hinged to the body of the car.

Underneath the arm 41 is attached a spring 15, the free end of whichbears against a portion of the exterior surface of the sleeve orgear-wheel 37. The spring 45 is partially shown in Figs. 3 and 9, but isshown in Fig. 8 partially surrounding the sleeve or gear-wheel 37between the sprocket-s l1 and the collar 414:.

Attached to the side of the arm 41 is a spring 46, the free end of whichbears against a collar or projection 47 on the sleeve 13 or axle 11, andexerts a force against such arm to cause the part 42 of the sleeve orgearwheel 37 to bear against the collar 43 on the sleeve 13.

Atthe end of the car-body opposite the axle 11 I secure to such car-bodysuitable hangers or journal-boxes 48 to support the shaft 49 so thatsuch shaft may rotate, and at one end of such shaft I secure upon it thesprocketwheel 50, so that such wheel will rotate with said shaft. Iconnect the sprockets 41 upon the sleeve or gear-wheel 37 with saidsprocketwheel 50 by an endless sprocket-chain 51, so that the rotarymovement of said sleeve or gear-wheel may, through the medium of saidsprocket-chain, be transmitted to said sprocket-wheel 50.

On the shaft 49 are two sprocket-wheels 52 and 53, secured so as toprevent longitudinal movement upon said shaft and yet permit rotation onor around the shaft. Each of said wheels upon their inner sides areprovided with hubs or rims 54. The ends of such hubs or rims are alsonotched with teeth or cogs 55. On such shaft between the sprocket-wheels52 and 53 is a sleeve 56, arranged to rotate only with such shaft, andwhich also is arranged to slide or move longitudinally upon the shaft,and for such purpose may be provided with a longitudinal groove toreceive a registering longitudinal tongue on such shaft in similarmanner as described for sleeve or gear-wheel 26, as shown in Fig. 3, theends of such sleeve being provided with teeth or cogs 57, which registeror mesh with the teeth or cogs 55 when thrown in gear. Thesprocketwheels 52 and 53 are also provided with a series of perforations58 through their respective sides, as shown in Fig. 7, and upon each endof the sleeve 56 is an arm 59, (shown in Fig. 5,) which registers withand enters one of the perforations 58 in one of said sprocketwheels whenever an end of the sleeve is thrown in gear with such sprocket-wheel.Alever 60 is hinged at its lower end to the sleeve 56, which leverpreferably extends upward through the platform 0 of the car, and issecured to the outside end D of the car by a pin through the perforation61 in such lever, such lever extending a suitable distance above suchperforation to form a handle, so that it may be operated thereby by theoperator. The handle of such lever and its attachment by said pin to theouter end of the car are not shown in the drawings, as the constructionand method of attachment will be readily understood.

From the description herein given the mode of construction and operationof my device will be readily understood without any further explanation.

I am aware that mechanism has been heretofore described forautomatically operating indicators in cars to cause the latter atcertain places along the line of railway to dis play names of stations,streets, and otherinformation, and that it has been proposed to placebeveled projections centrally or within the trackway at certain pointsto act upon a roller at the lower end of a vertically-moving rodattached to the car-body for conveying motion to the indicatormechanism. It has also been proposed to pivot a lever to the body of acar, its lower end to be acted upon by a trip at the side of the railand slide a bar attached at its upper end, such bar being provided witha rack to rotate a pinion, a chain or belt being provided to conveymotion from the pinion to the operating mechanism of the indicator. Ithas also been suggested to suspenda shaft vertically from the car-bod yarranged to rotate, its lower end provided with radially-extending armsto come in contact with lugs or other obstructions to partially rotatethe shaft, the upper end of such shaft being provided with horizontalarms or with gearing for transmitting motion to the indicator mechanism.It has also been proposed that a wheel journaled in hingedhangingbrackets from the car-body shall have a segmental portion of itsperiphery removed and that a wheel on the revolving car-axle shallnormally revolve Within such segmental portion cut out, and that bymeans of a bellcrank lever loosely j ournaled or hinged to the shaft orcar-axle coming in contact with a pin in the side of said wheel in saidhanging bracket when the lower end of the lever comes in contact withthe trip or obstruction in the roadway, the wheel upon the axle and theperiphery of the wheel in the hanging brackets are brought in contactand the latter caused to rotate by frictional contact until itssegmental portion is again brought in position for the reception of thewheel upon the axle, and by proper mechanism motion is conveyed fromsaid wheel in the hanging brackets to operate mechanism of theindicator, and

it has also been proposed to use double inclines or cams asobstructions, in combination with a tilting lever attached to the bodyof the car to come in contact with such obstruction for transmittingmotion to the indicator mechanism. I do not therefore claim suchcombinations, broadly.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an automatic car-indicatorroperating device, the combination ofthe rotating sleeve upon the rotating car-axle, the rectangular box,hinged arm, and Wheel, the trip, the gearrotating wheel on said sleeve,the collar surrounding such gear-wheel, the pin attached to said collar,the hinged arm attached to said collar, the spring-arm and toothattached to said collar-arm, the combined loose gear and sprocket-wheelupon the sleeve, the tooth 39, the collar surrounding said combinedloose gear and sprocket wheel and its hinged arm, .and the lateralspring attached to said lastnamed arm, having its bearing against theprojection on the axle-sleeve, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic car indicator-operating device, the combination, witha rotating car- IIO axle and its rotating sleeve, the loose gearwheel onsuch sleeve, its lateral spring, and means of transmitting motion fromsaid gear-wheel, of the sleeve 21, its exterior rectangular in form andgrooved, the rectangular box surrounding the last-named sleeve, arrangedto slide vertically in said grooves, the wheel attached to said box, thehinged arm attached to said box, the sidewise-project-ing extension tosaid box, provided with the vertical and angular connecting perforationsor slots therein, the rotating gear-wheel upon said axle-sleeve arrangedto slide thereon, the collar surronn din gsaid last-named gear-wheel,its hinged arm,and thepinprojectingfrom said lastnan1ed collar enteringthe vertical and angular connecting perforations or slots in thesidewise projection of said box, whereby the elevation of said wheel andbox causes the rotating geauwheel to slide upon the axlesleeve and meshwith the loose gear-wheel thereon, and vice versa, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic car-indicator-operating device, thecombination,witharevolvin g caraxle, its rotating sleeve, the loosegear-wheel on such sleeve, and means for transmission of motiontherefrom, of the vertical sliding box provided at its lower end with awheel, and also having a sidewise-projecting extension with vertical andangular connecting perforations or slots therein, the rotating andsliding gear-wheel upon said axle-sleeve provided with a' pin enteringsaid perforations or slots, whereby when said box is elevated therotating gear-wheel is caused to slide upon such axle-sleeve and meshwith the loose gearwheel thereon, and the collar surrounding saidsliding and rotating gear-wheel and its hinged arm, the spring arm andtooth attached to said collar-arm, and the tooth 39 upon said loosegear-wheel arranged to come in contact with each other and force saidgear-wheels apart, substantially as described.

4:. In an automatic car-indicator-opcrating device, in connection withmeans of transmitting motion from a revolving car-axle to a shaftsuspended beneath the car-body, the combination of two sprocket-wheelsloosely mounted upon such shaft arranged so as not to slidelongitudinally thereon, each provided with inner-facing notched ortoothed rims or hubs, the sliding rotating sleeve upon such shaftinterposed between said sprocketwheels, the ends of such sleeve notchedor toothed to mesh with the notches or teeth in the hubs or rims of saidsprocket-wheels, the arms upon said sleeve registering with perforationsin the sprocket-wheels, and the lever secured to said sleeve for thepurpose of sliding the same on said shaft, substantially as described.

SYLVANUS l3. CRANE.

Witnesses:

H. A. SNYDER, .T. M. EDMUNDS.

